HFCs FOR THERMAL INSULATION Visit our web site www.fluorocarbons.org A SOLUTION ADDRESSING THE CLIMATE CHANGE CHALLENGE EFCTC - European FluoroCarbon Technical Committee Avenue E.van Nieuwenhuyse 4 B-1160 Brussels - Phone : +32 2 676 72 11 HFCs FOR THERMAL INSULATION Visit our web site www.fluorocarbons.org A SOLUTION ADDRESSING THE CLIMATE CHANGE CHALLENGE EFCTC - European FluoroCarbon Technical Committee Avenue E.van Nieuwenhuyse 4 B-1160 Brussels - Phone : +32 2 676 72 11 Progress for our quality of life… Could we do without heating or air conditioning? …and climate protection Refrigeration, air conditioning and heating are often essential to life particularly in public areas such as The greenhouse effect to a great extent determines the climate in hospitals and laboratories, for food products on earth. Growth in emissions of greenhouse gases associated with in the cold chain, for medical and computer equipment. human activities threa tens the climate balance. Carbon dioxide (CO2) - the main greenhouse gas - is emitted when fossil fuels are burnt to But we have also to consider the impact of produce energy and increasing energy demands have led to rapid growth the wide-spread use of these services on in the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere. Heating, air conditioning the global environment. and refrigeration have contributed to this growth. Roof If no action is taken at all, greenhouse gas(*) emissions could be expected to further increase in EU Member States by 17% 22% between 1990 and 2010, while the target set by the Kyoto Protocol for the period is to reduce the emissions by 8%. Windows Fortunately, it is possible to reduce energy consumption and 21% the associated CO2 emissions in heating and air conditioning by one third by using more or better insulation. 40% Walls With measures like better insulation, Thermal insulation: The single largest opportunity to save energy energy savings can reach 20% in housing 15 % and 30% to 35% in commercial 2% and industrial buildings, Better insulation is possible in a great variety of areas: buildings including office accommodation. and water heating, refrigerated transport and installations for storing, or preserving foodstuffs and medicinal products. Doors Floor The insulation techniques used vary greatly: weatherboarding panels, cavity wall insulation, sprayed foam, lagging for heating pipes, etc. Main sources of heat loss for a traditional Belgian house built in 1975 Development and wide-spread use of high-performance thermal insulation products Heating and help significantly to safeguard of our climate in the future. 26% air conditioning TOTAL Buildings 40% (*) CO2 EMISSIONS 14% Lighting and electrical equipment (*) The greenhouse gases covered by the Kyoto Protocol are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), 3068 million tonnes Transport 30% nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) Industry 30% (*) For europe in 2000; source: ECOFYS Report for the EU Commission Progress for our quality of life… Could we do without heating or air conditioning? …and climate protection Refrigeration, air conditioning and heating are often essential to life particularly in public areas such as The greenhouse effect to a great extent determines the climate in hospitals and laboratories, for food products on earth. Growth in emissions of greenhouse gases associated with in the cold chain, for medical and computer equipment. human activities threa tens the climate balance. Carbon dioxide (CO2) - the main greenhouse gas - is emitted when fossil fuels are burnt to But we have also to consider the impact of produce energy and increasing energy demands have led to rapid growth the wide-spread use of these services on in the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere. Heating, air conditioning the global environment. and refrigeration have contributed to this growth. Roof If no action is taken at all, greenhouse gas(*) emissions could be expected to further increase in EU Member States by 17% 22% between 1990 and 2010, while the target set by the Kyoto Protocol for the period is to reduce the emissions by 8%. Windows Fortunately, it is possible to reduce energy consumption and 21% the associated CO2 emissions in heating and air conditioning by one third by using more or better insulation. 40% Walls With measures like better insulation, Thermal insulation: The single largest opportunity to save energy energy savings can reach 20% in housing 15 % and 30% to 35% in commercial 2% and industrial buildings, Better insulation is possible in a great variety of areas: buildings including office accommodation. and water heating, refrigerated transport and installations for storing, or preserving foodstuffs and medicinal products. Doors Floor The insulation techniques used vary greatly: weatherboarding panels, cavity wall insulation, sprayed foam, lagging for heating pipes, etc. Main sources of heat loss for a traditional Belgian house built in 1975 Development and wide-spread use of high-performance thermal insulation products Heating and help significantly to safeguard of our climate in the future. 26% air conditioning TOTAL Buildings 40% (*) CO2 EMISSIONS 14% Lighting and electrical equipment (*) The greenhouse gases covered by the Kyoto Protocol are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), 3068 million tonnes Transport 30% nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) Industry 30% (*) For europe in 2000; source: ECOFYS Report for the EU Commission Thermal insulation Selection criteria Thermal conductivity (mW/m.K) Relative thickness saves energy Good insulators at equal heat loss for insulating materials 27.30 have lower numbers 1 Good insulators and reduces are thinner rigid polymeric CO2 emissions foam 45 1.7 The choice of an insulating material depends on a number of factors : mineral wool technical factors Rigid plastic foams constitute one of the 52 1.9 • the insulator’s thermal conductivity, which must be as low as possible most efficient insulating materials. • the material’s ability to prevent diffusion of the insulating gas They consist of closed “cells” • the ease of using the material in renovating buildings (space availability) entrapping a gas that is actually 105 3.9 the real insulator. Foamed glass socioeconomic factors • the safety characteristics of the material and its insulating gas There are several types of rigid (flammability, toxicity, etc.) foams : polyurethane (PUR), 160 Bitumen 5.9 • the cost-effectiveness of the material polyisocyanurate (PIR), extruded / cork mixture • regulation of thermal insulation requirements and materials polystyrene (XPS) and phenolic foams. environmental factors • the overall performance over What makes a good thermal insulator? Foamed concrete the whole life cycle of the application An efficient insulating gas held • resources – particularly energy- efficiency in a gas-tight • other environmental impact (on water, air ..) structure. • availability of options for end of life recovery. Air and the three main cell gas options for blowing insulation foams Did you know that Dry air CO2 / water Hydrocarbons (HCs) Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCS) a common pull over ADVANTAGES: ADVANTAGES: ADVANTAGES: ADVANTAGES: is so warm because • cheap • often used for insulating foams with • good insulation value • the best insulating capacity of the dry air it contains? • simple to use no special requirements (CO2 for XPS; • low cost • retain insulation properties CO2 / water for PUR) over many years Whether you look at animal wool DISADVANTAGES: DISADVANTAGES: • good where space is limited or glass wool, cork, synthetic fibers, DISADVANTAGES: • flammability in production and use plastic foams or double glazing, • poor insulation value Where space limits the DISADVANTAGES: the true insulator is the gas • loses its qualities when the • moderate insulation value • volatile organic compounds (VOC) thickness of insulation trapped inside the material. material gets wet • fast diffusion of CO2 out of the material emissions • contribution to greenhouse effect (as in refrigerated trucks) • not suitable as foam blowing • limited effectiveness over time • not suitable for all types of foam if released into the atmosphere HFCs being good insulators, The better the gas is retained in the agent • higher thickness of foams necessary • investment required for safety during • relatively high product price save more energy. material and the less this insulation gas (space constraints) production (prohibitive to most SMEs)* conducts heat, the more effective it is. • diffusion of the gas during lifetime *SMEs are small and medium sized entreprises Thermal insulation Selection criteria Thermal conductivity (mW/m.K) Relative thickness saves energy Good insulators at equal heat loss for insulating materials 27.30 have lower numbers 1 Good insulators and reduces are thinner rigid polymeric CO2 emissions foam 45 1.7 The choice of an insulating material depends on a number of factors : mineral wool technical factors Rigid plastic foams constitute one of the 52 1.9 • the insulator’s thermal conductivity, which must be as low as possible most efficient insulating materials. • the material’s ability to prevent diffusion of the insulating gas They consist of closed “cells” • the ease of using the material in renovating buildings (space availability) entrapping a gas that is actually 105 3.9 the real insulator. Foamed glass socioeconomic factors • the safety characteristics of the material and its insulating